The Australian Travel Dialysis Chair Exchange Program
This program has been set up to help Australian dialysis patents and their families 'konnect', to organise travel - to take a respite break, enjoy interstate travel within Australia or a holiday.

Register for our pilot program to connect with others in Australia privately, to arrange a 'dialysis chair swap'. Your renal staff must agree to this chair swap. This Konnections Register is private, simple and easy. These are current listings for your reference.

Australian Dialysis Konnections Register Current requests to Swap Dialysis Chairs

Australian Capital Territory DUG - none current New South Wales DUG - none current Queensland DUG - none current Sth Australian DUG - none current Tasmanian DUG - none current Western Australian DUG    Dialyser from Bunbury Renal Unit - Dialysis chair swap for Robina or Southport Units in QLD, or Broome in North West WA Victorian DUG Dialyser Sale Renal Unit, Gippsland - Dialysis chair swap anywhere in Australia, for peaceful respite

STEP 1 - REGISTER
Send us your Letter of Registration signed by your nephrologist and dialysis unit staff which confirms your health is stable and you can travel. (You may be asked to complete a more detailed request from the Dialysis Unit). Use our Australian Dialysis Unit Guide to locate any renal or dialysis unit in Australia.

STEP 2 - ADVERTISE
When we receive your signed registration letter, which should include details of your travel wish, we simply register your area of dialysis in the Dialysis Konnections Register (see below). The exact location of your dialysis unit is not identified - only areas and regions are noted. You can request a couple of locations, but can only accept one 'konnection' at a time.

STEP 3 - RECOGNITION
Another haemodialysis patient wishing to travel (who must also be registered under the same criteria) sees your travel wish details and location on the Konnections Register.

STEP 4 - CONTACT
Registrant makes contact with KHA requesting a 'Konnection'.

STEP 5 - EXCHANGE
When you are identified as a registrant with a matching travel wish, we help you 'connect' with your possible dialysis chair swap partner privately, to refine plans, dates etc. You each then confirm plans for a 'swap' for an agreed time period with your individual dialysis unit contact to confirm and complete the arrangements.

Keep in mind - some dialysis units may:
-  have temporary vacancies for a set period
-  require patient screening for communicable diseases, before exchange can be approved
-  keep chairs for holiday patients *Refer Dialysis & Travel

SPREAD THE WORD!
This is a new pilot program - we need your help to promote the 'chair swap' program. If any steps seem unclear, contact Teresa by email teresa.taylor@kidney.org.au or phone 08 8334 7509.

IMPORTANT THINGS TO CONSIDER

• Talk to your dialysis unit staff or nephrologist before you start to plan any holiday. Ask them if they feel you could enter into this program.
  
  
• You may need to be flexible around your original plans to come to an agreement on exchange dates. You will need to swap exact treatment times with each other.
  
  
• When you register, you agree to allow your name and contact details to be given to another registered program patient who has shown interest in discussing an exchange. Make sure you are comfortable with passing on your personal contact details to any suitable dialysis swap partners before registering.
  
  
• No private contact details or exactly locations of dialysis units will be listed of the Register below - an entry will only list a registrant's current location and desired destination (See example in Register below).
  
  
• Your dialysis unit will have the necessary paperwork to send your treatment/condition details to the other participating unit. There may be certain conditions where the other unit may not accept your treatment.
  
  
• You must check with your own dialysis unit prior to agreeing to an exchange of dialysis chairs.
  
  
• Illness, emergency situations in the dialysis unit or some other situation may arise, where one of the pair have no option but to cancel your agreed plans, preventing the exchange. You would be wise to consider some form of travel insurance, or personal cover and savings, should your travel plans be cancelled.